Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Pueblo, CO
Issued by NWS Pueblo, CO
280
UXUS97 KPUB 181206
SRGPUB
Soaring Forecast
National Weather Service Pueblo, Colorado
0606 MDT Friday, October 18, 2024
This forecast is for Villa Grove, CO for Friday, October 18, 2024:
If the trigger temperature of 47.8 F/8.8 C is reached...then
Thermal Soaring Index....................... Fair
Maximum rate of lift........................ 292 ft/min (1.5 m/s)
Maximum height of thermals.................. 16692 ft MSL (7748 ft AGL)
Forecast maximum temperature................... 57.0 F/14.3 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 1000 MDT
Time of overdevelopment........................ None
Middle/high clouds during soaring window....... Broken/overcast opaque middle
Surface winds during soaring window............ 20 mph or less
Height of the -3 thermal index................. 14335 ft MSL (5391 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Saturday 10/19..... Poor
Wave Soaring Index............................. Not available
Remarks...
Sunrise/Sunset.................... 07:16:12 / 18:20:54 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 11 hr 4 min 43 sec (664 min 43 sec)
Altitude of sun at 12:48:33 MDT... 41.66 degrees
Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 10/18/2024 at 0600 MDT
Freezing level.................. 11163 ft MSL (2219 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 15294 ft MSL (6350 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 16117 ft MSL (7173 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... -0.2
K index......................... +3.0
Height Temperature Wind Wind Spd Lapse Rate ConvectionT Thermal Lift Rate
ft MSL deg C deg F Dir kt m/s C/km F/kft deg C deg F Index fpm m/s
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
50000 -58.5 -73.3 240 38 20 2.5 1.4 M M M M M
45000 -54.9 -66.8 245 45 23 0.4 0.2 M M M M M
40000 -53.9 -65.0 215 51 26 0.6 0.4 M M M M M
38000 -53.0 -63.4 215 53 27 1.8 1.0 M M M M M
36000 -52.0 -61.6 220 55 28 1.8 1.0 M M M M M
34000 -49.9 -57.8 220 55 29 7.3 4.0 M M M M M
32000 -45.4 -49.7 215 54 28 7.4 4.0 M M M M M
30000 -40.7 -41.3 210 53 28 8.9 4.9 23.8 74.8 7.7 M M
29000 -38.0 -36.4 210 52 27 8.9 4.9 23.4 74.1 7.5 M M
28000 -34.7 -30.5 210 51 26 8.9 4.9 23.1 73.6 7.4 M M
27000 -32.1 -25.8 210 50 26 8.7 4.8 22.8 73.1 7.3 M M
26000 -29.4 -20.9 210 48 25 8.7 4.8 22.4 72.2 7.0 M M
25000 -26.8 -16.2 210 45 23 8.7 4.8 22.0 71.6 6.7 M M
24000 -24.3 -11.7 210 43 22 7.0 3.8 21.6 70.9 6.5 M M
23000 -22.3 -8.1 210 43 22 6.6 3.6 20.4 68.8 5.5 M M
22000 -20.4 -4.7 215 43 22 6.6 3.6 19.4 66.9 4.7 M M
21000 -18.4 -1.1 220 43 22 7.0 3.8 18.4 65.1 3.8 M M
20000 -16.3 2.7 220 42 22 7.0 3.8 17.4 63.3 3.0 M M
19500 -15.3 4.5 220 42 22 7.0 3.8 16.9 62.5 2.6 M M
19000 -14.2 6.4 225 42 21 7.0 3.8 16.5 61.7 2.2 M M
18500 -13.2 8.2 225 42 21 6.9 3.8 16.1 60.9 1.8 M M
18000 -12.2 10.0 225 42 22 6.9 3.8 15.6 60.0 1.4 M M
17500 -11.1 12.0 225 43 22 6.8 3.7 15.1 59.2 1.0 M M
17000 -10.2 13.6 230 44 23 6.1 3.3 14.5 58.2 0.4 M M
16500 -9.3 15.3 230 45 23 6.2 3.4 13.9 57.1 -0.1 681 3.5
16000 -8.4 16.9 230 47 24 5.8 3.2 13.3 56.0 -0.7 640 3.3
15500 -7.6 18.3 230 48 25 5.8 3.2 12.7 54.9 -1.3 600 3.0
15000 -6.7 19.9 230 50 26 5.7 3.1 12.1 53.8 -1.9 560 2.8
14500 -5.9 21.4 230 52 27 5.7 3.1 11.4 52.5 -2.6 521 2.6
14000 -5.2 22.6 230 54 28 4.3 2.4 10.6 51.1 -3.4 485 2.5
13500 -4.4 24.1 230 54 28 6.2 3.4 10.0 49.9 -4.1 446 2.3
13000 -3.0 26.6 230 54 28 7.3 4.0 9.2 48.6 -4.9 382 1.9
12500 -2.1 28.2 230 51 26 6.7 3.7 8.7 47.7 -5.5 340 1.7
12000 -1.2 29.8 235 48 25 5.7 3.1 8.2 46.8 -6.1 298 1.5
11750 -0.8 30.6 230 47 24 5.7 3.1 7.9 46.2 -6.5 280 1.4
11500 -0.4 31.3 230 46 23 6.3 3.5 7.6 45.7 -6.8 260 1.3
11250 0.0 32.0 230 44 23 6.3 3.5 7.3 45.2 -7.1 240 1.2
11000 0.4 32.7 230 42 22 5.6 3.1 7.1 44.7 -7.4 220 1.1
10750 0.8 33.4 230 40 21 5.8 3.2 6.7 44.1 -7.8 201 1.0
10500 1.3 34.3 225 38 20 6.7 3.7 6.5 43.7 -8.1 179 0.9
10250 1.8 35.2 225 36 18 6.9 3.8 6.2 43.2 -8.4 158 0.8
10000 2.1 35.8 225 33 17 -0.1 -0.1 5.9 42.6 -8.8 140 0.7
9750 1.7 35.1 225 29 15 -5.3 -2.9 4.8 40.6 -9.9 144 0.7
9500 1.5 34.7 220 25 13 0.4 0.2 3.9 39.0 -10.9 143 0.7
9250 1.7 35.1 220 20 10 4.4 2.4 3.3 38.0 -11.5 130 0.7
9000 2.0 35.6 220 11 6 5.0 2.7 3.0 37.4 -11.9 113 0.6
8750 M M M M M M M M M M M M
8500 M M M M M M M M M M M M
8250 M M M M M M M M M M M M
8000 M M M M M M M M M M M M
* * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * *
10/18/2024 at 0900 MDT | 10/18/2024 at 1200 MDT
|
CAPE... +1.7 LI... +1.6 | CAPE... +175.4 LI... -0.2
CINH... 0.0 K Index... +6.1 | CINH... 0.0 K Index... +14.1
|
Height Temperature Wnd WndSpd Lapse Rate | Temperature Wnd WndSpd Lapse Rate
ft MSL deg C deg F Dir kt m/s C/km F/kft | deg C deg F Dir kt m/s C/km F/kft
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
50000 -58.7 -73.7 230 32 16 1.4 0.8 | -59.4 -74.9 215 30 16 1.4 0.8
45000 -56.3 -69.3 230 49 25 2.4 1.3 | -57.1 -70.8 220 52 27 2.1 1.1
40000 -52.7 -62.9 225 58 30 2.4 1.3 | -53.9 -65.0 225 65 34 2.1 1.1
38000 -51.9 -61.4 220 59 30 0.9 0.5 | -52.6 -62.7 220 67 34 2.3 1.2
36000 -51.4 -60.5 210 59 30 0.9 0.5 | -51.2 -60.2 210 68 35 2.3 1.2
34000 -49.8 -57.6 205 59 30 6.6 3.6 | -49.1 -56.4 205 69 36 6.8 3.7
32000 -45.7 -50.3 205 58 30 6.7 3.7 | -44.9 -48.8 205 69 35 6.9 3.8
30000 -41.3 -42.3 205 57 29 9.1 5.0 | -40.0 -40.0 200 67 34 7.7 4.2
29000 -37.9 -36.2 205 56 29 9.1 5.0 | -37.7 -35.9 200 64 33 7.7 4.2
28000 -35.2 -31.4 200 56 29 9.1 5.0 | -35.4 -31.7 200 62 32 7.7 4.2
27000 -32.5 -26.5 200 55 28 8.0 4.4 | -33.1 -27.6 205 59 30 7.3 4.0
26000 -30.1 -22.2 205 53 28 8.1 4.4 | -30.9 -23.6 205 56 29 7.3 4.0
25000 -27.7 -17.9 205 52 27 8.1 4.5 | -28.8 -19.8 205 54 28 7.4 4.0
24000 -25.3 -13.5 210 51 26 7.0 3.9 | -26.6 -15.9 205 51 26 7.4 4.1
23000 -23.3 -9.9 210 51 26 6.9 3.8 | -24.3 -11.7 205 50 26 7.5 4.1
22000 -21.2 -6.2 210 50 26 6.9 3.8 | -22.1 -7.8 205 49 25 7.5 4.1
21000 -19.2 -2.6 215 49 25 6.7 3.7 | -19.9 -3.8 205 47 24 7.3 4.0
20000 -17.2 1.0 215 45 23 6.7 3.7 | -17.8 -0.0 205 44 23 7.3 4.0
19500 -16.2 2.8 220 43 22 6.7 3.7 | -16.7 1.9 205 42 22 7.3 4.0
19000 -15.2 4.6 220 41 21 6.7 3.7 | -15.6 3.9 205 41 21 7.4 4.0
18500 -14.2 6.4 220 40 20 6.9 3.8 | -14.5 5.9 205 39 20 6.3 3.5
18000 -13.1 8.4 225 40 21 7.0 3.8 | -13.7 7.3 205 38 20 6.2 3.4
17500 -12.1 10.2 225 40 21 6.8 3.8 | -12.8 9.0 205 37 19 6.4 3.5
17000 -11.1 12.0 225 41 21 6.5 3.6 | -11.8 10.8 205 38 19 6.6 3.6
16500 -10.1 13.8 225 42 22 6.5 3.6 | -10.9 12.4 205 39 20 6.7 3.7
16000 -9.2 15.4 225 44 22 6.7 3.7 | -9.9 14.2 205 40 20 6.5 3.6
15500 -8.2 17.2 225 45 23 6.7 3.7 | -9.0 15.8 210 39 20 6.5 3.6
15000 -7.2 19.0 225 46 24 7.2 3.9 | -7.4 18.7 210 38 20 7.5 4.1
14500 -6.1 21.0 225 47 24 7.7 4.2 | -6.3 20.7 210 37 19 6.2 3.4
14000 -5.2 22.6 225 49 25 5.5 3.0 | -5.5 22.1 215 35 18 6.7 3.7
13500 -4.3 24.3 225 47 24 7.2 3.9 | -4.5 23.9 215 31 16 6.5 3.6
13000 -2.7 27.1 225 43 22 7.6 4.2 | -3.6 25.5 215 30 15 6.7 3.7
12500 -1.7 28.9 225 44 23 7.3 4.0 | -2.7 27.1 210 28 14 6.4 3.5
12000 -0.8 30.6 225 45 23 4.7 2.6 | -1.8 28.8 205 25 13 5.7 3.1
11750 -0.4 31.3 225 45 23 5.4 2.9 | -1.4 29.5 205 24 12 6.4 3.5
11500 -0.0 32.0 225 44 23 6.3 3.5 | -0.9 30.4 200 23 12 6.7 3.7
11250 0.4 32.7 225 43 22 5.8 3.2 | -0.4 31.3 195 22 11 6.7 3.7
11000 0.8 33.4 225 42 22 4.1 2.2 | 0.1 32.2 195 21 11 7.2 3.9
10750 1.0 33.8 225 39 20 3.5 1.9 | 0.6 33.1 190 20 10 7.3 4.0
10500 1.3 34.3 220 35 18 4.8 2.6 | 1.1 34.0 190 18 9 7.0 3.9
10250 1.6 34.9 220 32 16 3.3 1.8 | 1.6 34.9 185 17 9 7.4 4.1
10000 1.6 34.9 220 28 14 -1.8 -1.0 | 2.1 35.8 185 16 8 8.0 4.4
9750 1.3 34.3 215 24 12 -3.7 -2.0 | 2.7 36.9 185 14 7 8.7 4.8
9500 1.2 34.2 215 20 10 -0.1 -0.1 | 3.4 38.1 185 13 7 9.6 5.3
9250 1.3 34.3 210 15 8 5.9 3.3 | 4.2 39.6 185 12 6 16.3 8.9
9000 2.2 36.0 210 9 5 18.8 10.3 | 6.3 43.3 180 10 5 48.3 26.5
8750 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
8500 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
8250 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
8000 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
10/18/2024 at 1500 MDT | 10/18/2024 at 1800 MDT
|
CAPE... +443.3 LI... -2.2 | CAPE... +39.2 LI... -0.5
CINH... -0.1 K Index... +16.9 | CINH... -18.1 K Index... +18.8
|
Height Temperature Wnd WndSpd Lapse Rate | Temperature Wnd WndSpd Lapse Rate
ft MSL deg C deg F Dir kt m/s C/km F/kft | deg C deg F Dir kt m/s C/km F/kft
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
50000 -58.9 -74.0 215 34 17 3.0 1.7 | -58.9 -74.0 225 28 14 3.6 2.0
45000 -54.7 -66.5 215 51 26 0.9 0.5 | -53.9 -65.0 215 45 23 1.4 0.8
40000 -53.5 -64.3 225 71 37 0.8 0.5 | -51.9 -61.4 230 61 32 1.3 0.7
38000 -52.2 -62.0 220 71 36 2.8 1.5 | -51.4 -60.5 225 60 31 0.5 0.3
36000 -50.6 -59.1 215 66 34 2.8 1.5 | -51.1 -60.0 215 56 29 0.5 0.3
34000 -48.6 -55.5 210 65 33 4.7 2.6 | -49.3 -56.7 210 55 29 6.5 3.6
32000 -45.4 -49.7 205 68 35 4.7 2.6 | -45.4 -49.7 210 60 31 6.5 3.6
30000 -41.8 -43.2 200 66 34 7.7 4.2 | -41.3 -42.3 210 62 32 7.3 4.0
29000 -39.6 -39.3 195 60 31 7.7 4.2 | -39.1 -38.4 205 60 31 7.3 4.0
28000 -37.3 -35.1 195 54 28 7.7 4.2 | -36.9 -34.4 205 58 30 7.3 4.0
27000 -34.9 -30.8 190 49 25 9.1 5.0 | -34.6 -30.3 200 57 29 8.1 4.5
26000 -32.2 -26.0 195 46 24 9.0 4.9 | -32.2 -26.0 200 53 27 8.1 4.4
25000 -29.5 -21.1 195 43 22 9.0 5.0 | -29.8 -21.6 200 50 26 8.1 4.4
24000 -26.9 -16.4 195 41 21 7.4 4.1 | -27.4 -17.3 195 47 24 8.4 4.6
23000 -24.7 -12.5 195 40 20 7.2 4.0 | -24.9 -12.8 200 43 22 8.4 4.6
22000 -22.6 -8.7 200 39 20 7.2 4.0 | -22.4 -8.3 200 39 20 8.4 4.6
21000 -20.5 -4.9 200 38 20 6.8 3.7 | -20.0 -4.0 205 36 19 6.7 3.7
20000 -18.5 -1.3 205 37 19 6.8 3.7 | -18.0 -0.4 205 34 17 6.9 3.8
19500 -17.4 0.7 205 36 19 6.8 3.7 | -17.0 1.4 205 33 17 6.9 3.8
19000 -16.4 2.5 205 36 18 6.8 3.7 | -16.0 3.2 205 31 16 6.9 3.8
18500 -15.4 4.3 205 35 18 7.7 4.2 | -15.0 5.0 205 29 15 7.5 4.1
18000 -14.2 6.4 205 35 18 7.8 4.3 | -13.9 7.0 205 25 13 7.5 4.1
17500 -13.0 8.6 205 34 17 7.5 4.1 | -12.8 9.0 200 20 11 7.3 4.0
17000 -11.9 10.6 205 35 18 6.8 3.8 | -11.7 10.9 195 22 11 7.2 3.9
16500 -10.9 12.4 205 36 18 6.9 3.8 | -10.6 12.9 195 24 12 7.2 3.9
16000 -9.9 14.2 205 35 18 5.9 3.2 | -9.6 14.7 190 26 13 7.1 3.9
15500 -9.1 15.6 205 34 18 6.0 3.3 | -8.5 16.7 185 27 14 7.1 3.9
15000 -7.6 18.3 200 32 16 7.8 4.3 | -6.9 19.6 180 29 15 7.2 3.9
14500 -6.5 20.3 195 29 15 6.6 3.6 | -5.9 21.4 180 30 15 6.6 3.6
14000 -5.5 22.1 190 27 14 8.6 4.7 | -4.9 23.2 180 31 16 7.6 4.2
13500 -4.3 24.3 185 25 13 8.5 4.6 | -3.8 25.2 175 33 17 7.4 4.0
13000 -3.2 26.2 180 24 12 7.8 4.3 | -2.7 27.1 175 32 16 7.8 4.3
12500 -2.0 28.4 175 22 11 8.7 4.8 | -1.6 29.1 170 30 15 7.8 4.3
12000 -0.8 30.6 170 20 11 8.4 4.6 | -0.5 31.1 170 28 14 8.1 4.4
11750 -0.2 31.6 170 20 10 8.8 4.8 | 0.2 32.4 165 26 13 9.6 5.3
11500 0.4 32.7 170 19 10 8.8 4.8 | 0.9 33.6 165 24 13 9.9 5.4
11250 1.1 34.0 165 18 10 9.0 4.9 | 1.6 34.9 165 23 12 9.5 5.2
11000 1.7 35.1 165 18 9 9.2 5.0 | 2.3 36.1 160 22 11 8.9 4.9
10750 2.4 36.3 165 18 9 9.7 5.3 | 2.9 37.2 160 20 11 9.3 5.1
10500 3.2 37.8 165 17 9 10.2 5.6 | 3.6 38.5 155 19 10 9.8 5.4
10250 3.9 39.0 165 17 9 10.3 5.6 | 4.3 39.7 155 18 9 9.5 5.2
10000 4.7 40.5 165 17 9 10.4 5.7 | 5.0 41.0 155 17 9 9.2 5.0
9750 5.5 41.9 165 16 8 10.6 5.8 | 5.7 42.3 155 16 8 9.2 5.0
9500 6.3 43.3 165 15 8 10.8 5.9 | 6.4 43.5 150 15 8 9.8 5.4
9250 7.1 44.8 165 14 7 14.0 7.7 | 7.1 44.8 150 13 7 8.3 4.5
9000 8.7 47.7 165 11 6 33.5 18.4 | 7.3 45.1 145 8 4 -7.0 -3.8
8750 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
8500 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
8250 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
8000 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
________________________________________________________________________________
This product is issued twice per day, once by approximately 0630 MST/0730 MDT
(1330 UTC). It is not continuously monitored nor updated after its initial
issuance.
The information contained herein is based on rawinsonde observation and/or
numerical weather prediction model data taken near Villa Grove, Colorado at:
North Latitude: 38 deg 16 min 03 sec
West Longitude: 105 deg 53 min 37 sec
Elevation: 7986 feet (2434 meters)
and may not be representative of other areas along the Front Range of the
Colorado Rocky Mountains. Note that some elevations in numerical weather
prediction models differ from actual station elevations, which can lead to
data which appear to be below ground. Erroneous data such as these should
not be used.
The content and format of this report as well as the issuance times are subject
to change without prior notice. Comments and suggestions are welcome and should
be directed to one of the addresses or phone numbers shown at the bottom of this
page. To expedite a response to comments, be sure to mention your interest in
the soaring forecast.
DEFINITIONS:
CAPE (Convective Available Potential Energy) - An integrated measure of the
energy available for convective development, also known as the positive
area on a thermodynamic diagram. Units are Joules per kilogram. Larger
values are indicative of greater instability and the possibility of
stronger convective activity, including thunderstorms. Values around or
greater than 1000 suggest the possibility of severe weather should
convective activity develop.
CIN (Convective Inhibition) - An integrated measure of the amount of energy
needed to initiate convective activity, also known as the negative area on
a thermodynamic diagram. Units are Joules per kilogram. The more negative
this number, the more energy is required to initiate convection. This
inhibitive energy can be overcome through surface heating, cooling aloft,
lifting mechanisms (orographic, frontal, gravity waves, etc.)
Convective Condensation Level - The height to which an air parcel possessing the
average saturation mixing ratio in the lowest 4000 feet of the airmass,
if heated sufficiently from below, will rise dry adiabatically until it
just becomes saturated. It estimates the base of cumulus clouds that are
produced by surface heating only.
Convection Temperature (ConvectionT) - The surface temperature required to make
the airmass dry adiabatic up to the given level. It can be considered a
"trigger temperature" for that level.
Freezing Level - The height where the temperature is zero degrees Celsius.
Height of Stable Layer - The height (between 12,000 and 18,000 feet above
mean sea level) where the smallest lapse rate exists. The location and
existence of this feature is important in the generation of mountain
waves.
K Index - A measure of stability which combines the temperature difference
between approximately 5,000 and 18,000 feet above the surface, the amount
of moisture at approximately 5,000 feet above the surface, and a measure
of the dryness at approximately 10,000 feet above the surface. Larger
positive numbers indicate more instability and a greater likelihood of
thunderstorm development. One interpretation of K index values regarding
soaring in the western United States is given in WMO Technical Note 158
and is reproduced in the following table:
below -10 no or weak thermals
-10 to 5 dry thermals or 1/8 cumulus with moderate thermals
5 to 15 good soaring conditions
15 to 20 good soaring conditions with occasional showers
20 to 30 excellent soaring conditions, but increasing
probability of showers and thunderstorms
above 30 more than 60 percent probability of thunderstorms
Lapse Rate - The change with height of the temperature. Negative values indicate
inversions.
Lifted Condensation Level - The height to which an air parcel possessing the
average dew point in the lowest 4000 feet of the airmass and the forecast
maximum temperature must be lifted dry adiabatically to attain saturation.
Lifted Index (LI) - The difference between the environmental temperature at a
level approximately 18,000 feet above the surface and the temperature of
an air parcel lifted dry adiabatically from the surface to its lifted
condensation level and then pseudoadiabatically thereafter to this same
level. The parcel`s initial temperature is the forecast maximum
temperature and its dew point is the average dew point in the lowest 4000
feet of the airmass. Negative values are indicative of instability with
positive values showing stable conditions.
Lift Rate - An experimental estimate of the strength of thermals. It is
computed the same way as the maximum rate of lift but uses the actual
level rather than the maximum height of thermals in the calculation.
Also, none of the empirical adjustments based on cloudiness and K-index
are applied to these calculations.
Maximum Height of Thermals - The height where the dry adiabat through the
forecast maximum temperature intersects the environmental temperature.
Maximum Rate of Lift - An estimate of the maximum strength of thermals. It
is computed from an empirical formula which combines the expected maximum
height of thermals with the difference in the environmental temperatures
between the maximum height of thermals and the temperature 4,000 feet
above the ground. After this computation, further empirical adjustments
are made based on the value of the K-index and the amount and opacity of
middle and high level cloudiness expected between the time of trigger
temperature and the time of overdevelopment.
Middle/High Clouds - The amount and opacity of middle (altostratus, altocumulus)
or high (cirrus, cirrostratus, cirrocumulus) clouds. Broken means that
between 60% and 90% of the sky is covered by the cloud, with overcast
conditions occurring when more than 90% of the sky is covered by the cloud.
Thin implies that the clouds are predominantly transparent, meaning that
some sunlight is reaching the ground, in contrast to opaque which suggests
that little sunlight is reaching the ground.
Potential Height of Wave - The minimum of the following two heights:
1. Level above the height of stable layer (or 14,000 feet if none exists)
where the wind direction changes by 30 degrees or more
2. Level above the height of stable layer (or 14,000 feet if none exists)
where the wind speed no longer increases with height
PVA/NVA - Positive vorticity advection (PVA)/negative vorticity advection (NVA)
on the 500 millibar isobaric surface (approximately 18,000 feet above mean
sea level). Weak PVA has been shown to assist in mountain wave soaring.
Soaring Window - The time between the time the trigger temperature is reached
and the time of overdevelopment.
Thermal Index - The difference between the environmental temperature and the
temperature at a particular level determined by following the dry adiabat
through the forecast maximum temperature up to that level. Negative values
are indicative of thermal lift.
Thermal Soaring Index - An adjective rating (for sailplanes) based on the
computed maximum rate of lift, and the wind speed and middle and high
cloud cover expected during the soaring window (the time of the trigger
temperature and the time of overdevelopment) according to the following:
Maximum rate of lift Adjective Rating
>= 800 fpm Excellent
>= 400 and < 800 fpm Good
>= 200 and < 400 fpm Fair
< 200 fpm Poor
Time of Overdevelopment - The time one or more of the following phenomena,
which essentially shut off thermal lift, is expected to occur:
1. formation of broken to overcast convective cloud cover
2. formation of scattered to numerous downbursts
3. initiation of widespread precipitation
Time of Trigger Temperature - The time the surface temperature is expected to
reach the trigger temperature.
Trigger Temperature - The surface temperature required to make the first 4000
feet of the atmosphere dry adiabatic.
Wave Soaring Index - An empirical, adjective rating (for sailplanes) which
attempts to combine a variety of phenomena important in mountain wave
soaring into a single index number. Objective points are assigned to
these phenomena: wind speed and direction at 14,000 ft MSL, the static
stability in the 12,000-18,000 ft MSL layer, the wind speed gradient above
the stable layer, jet stream location and frontal and upper trough
movements.
042613